World Spay Day 2013: Top Ten Reasons to Spay/Neuter Your Pet: by Kim Thomas

From Dakota’s Den: While reading blogs on February 18, 2013 I came across this post from my friend, Kim Thomas who writes the wonderful blog CindyLu’s Muse and loved it!

Meet CindyLu!

Kim is one of the first people I met when I began blogging in 2009, and I greatly admire her. I contacted Kim and asked if I could “re-post” this blog post on World Spay Day and she graciously gave her permission. I am a strong believer in the importance of spaying/neutering and loved this concise and straight forward blog post. Thank you Kim!

Comments

Very important post! I am the only pet mom has ever had that was not spayed but after we decided I should not be bred I had it done and I am a much happier pup without my “time of the year”. It is also better for a dog’s health to be spayed early. If a dog is spayed before their first heat they have a 99% chance of never getting breast cancer!

I am not against spay and neuter, but not all of that is true. More and more research is showing that early spay/neuter of dogs, (before a dog is fully grown), leads to serious health issues including cancers and bone/joint problems, just to name a couple. It lessens the chance of some reproductive cancers, but increases the frequency of some other very serious cancers because you are removing hormones before the dog is fully grown. Also, it is a myth that spaying/neutering an aggressive dog will take away the aggression. It is time for the ASPCA to update their information.

Of course you have to be a responsible pet owner if you own an intact animal and if you can’t be then best to spay/neuter. I don’t think the research is showing the same issues with early spay/neuter of cats, but I haven’t really paid attention to that to be honest.

I believe it’s important to keep in g there are risks in life, no matter which choices we make. It’s a matter of weighing the benefits and choosing the best of what is available. There are now non-Surgical procedures for neutering, which may suit your concerns

Personally, I question the validity of the new research you mention. Too often, studies are done with the right results, but the incorrect interpretation of those results. I question how much was controlled for genetics, environment, and diet – all of which can promote the cancer and conditions you describe. We’ll see how it shakes out down the road, but in the meantime one can always choose a non-surgical method instead, reserving some of those hormones.

I have personally witnessed countless times how neutering in particular reduced aggressive behavior in cats tremendously. There is no question it does in many dogs as well. We are indeed talking about animals here, so of course you cannot completely eradicate any possibility of it. But reduce you can, and altering does just that.

And wait until growth plates have closed. As I said it is the push to early spay/neuter in dogs that bothers me. And altering an aggressive dog does little to nothing to alter aggression. Cats I do not know about, as I said.

It’s been surprising to me that lately the spay & neuter movement has come under attack…If there is some debate about extremely early spay and neuter, let’s explore that but don’t let it get in the way of the main message which is that the only way to curb overpopulation and avoid euthanizing many thousands of animals each year we must encourage all pets to be spayed or neutered

No no I said the ASPCA. What bothers me about the rescue industry is all the misinformation they put out there to push their cause. Sure tell people that spy/neuter lessens reproductive cancers, but don’t tell people that depending on the age of the animal you might be increasing the chance for other cancers or hip dysplasia or other joint diseases. Or the myth about lessening aggression. Just not true. The movement to spay/neuter animals at a younger and younger age is harming animals and these are people’s pets, not shelter dogs. My point is just clean up the message. What is wrong with being honest?

that’s so strange! If I got it I would have answered…did you check your spam? Sometimes I go into spam but I don’t remember receiving it! I am sorry! Emailing you now! WOOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Thank you! I don’t remember what it was for BOL Barks and licks and love, Dakota

Hi cute doggie! and a wonderful post!
I dropped by to give you and your mom this:
My dear fellow blogger, I have nominated you for The Versatile Blogger Award! Congratulations! Please visit this link: fortheloveofalicesfamily.com/2013/02/my-very-first-nomination.html Alice

I think its so important to make sure there aren’t unwanted litters of puppies and kittens! Its heart breaking how full shelters are and how many healthy animals may be put to sleep because there isn’t room for them at the shelter.

Caren and Dakota – thanks for sharing Kim’s Top 10 Reasons to Spay/Neuter Your Pets. I too am surprised to see the spay/neuter movement under attack, especially when there are so many homeless animals euthanized each year. I understand that some pet owners may choose non-surgical methods of birth control, but for the vast majority of homeless dogs and cats in the sheltering system, spay/neuter is the most cost effective way to prevent unwanted pregnancies.

There are breed differences and every owner should have a conversation with their veterinarian about when is the best time to spay or neuter their pet. For most dogs and cats spaying and neutering by 4 months is healthy for them without any long term health concerns. There are more positive behavior and social changes with early S/N than negative. One size does not fit all but early spay neuter fits most.

One of the studies that is often quoted as a concern for early spay/neuter is the Golden Retriever study from UCDavis. It is specific to Golden Retrievers and some issues the breed is prone to. The number of affected patients is small and the authors warn the information cannot be extrapolated to other breeds. When the data is carefully reviewed there are several categories where spayed or neutered dogs scored better than intact Goldens.

Keep in mind that this is a very narrow study and does not look at the big picture. For example, a more recent study from the University of Georgia shows that neutered and spayed dogs live 14% and 23% longer respectively and intact dogs. The Georgia study looked at more than 70,000 dogs and 185 different breeds giving it more validity. Those results were backed up by an even more recent study from Banfield that shows neutered dogs live 18% longer and spayed females will 23% longer.
According to the Georgia study, spayed and neutered dogs are dramatically less likely to die from infectious disease, trauma, vascular disease and degenerative disease than intact dogs. The UC Davis study fails to mention or compare the protective effect preventing mammary cancer by spaying dogs before their first heat. Mammary cancer is the most common cancer in intact dogs they are nearly 20 times more likely to be affected by this cancer than any of the cancers reviewed in the UC Davis study.

When I look at the big picture, the scales tip heavily in favor of spaying and neutering by 4 months. I will trade an increased risk of less common maladies for an increased life expectancy of 20 to 25% longer. I choose to have my furry family members with me for as long as possible. You can read some of the research supporting early spay/neuter here: http://whentospay.org/get-the-facts (Click on Fact #6)